Here are the step-by-step instructions to set up an Apache web server on Ubuntu:
- Update and Upgrade the System:
- Open a terminal on your Ubuntu system.
- Run the following commands to update and upgrade your system:
sudo apt update sudo apt upgrade
- Install Apache:
- In the same terminal, run the following command to install Apache:
sudo apt install apache2 - During the installation process, you might be prompted to enter your sudo password. Type it in and press Enter.
- In the same terminal, run the following command to install Apache:
- Configure Firewall:
- By default, Ubuntu’s UFW firewall allows traffic on port 80 for Apache. However, it’s good practice to make sure it is enabled. Run the following command to check the firewall status:
sudo ufw status - If the firewall is inactive, enable it using the following command:
sudo ufw enable - Verify the firewall rules by running the status command again:
sudo ufw status
- By default, Ubuntu’s UFW firewall allows traffic on port 80 for Apache. However, it’s good practice to make sure it is enabled. Run the following command to check the firewall status:
- Test Apache Installation:
- Open a web browser on your local machine and enter your server’s IP address in the address bar. You should see the Apache default page if the installation was successful.
- Open a web browser on your local machine and enter your server’s IP address in the address bar. You should see the Apache default page if the installation was successful.
- Configure Virtual Hosts (Optional):
- If you want to host multiple websites on your Apache server, you can set up virtual hosts. By default, Apache has a default virtual host enabled. To add additional virtual hosts, follow these steps:
- Create a new configuration file for your virtual host by running the following command:
sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/example.com.conf - Replace “example.com” with your domain or desired hostname.
- Inside the file, enter the following configuration:
<VirtualHost *:80>ServerAdmin admin@example.com ServerName example.com ServerAlias www.example.com DocumentRoot /var/www/html/example.com ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/error.log CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/access.log combined </VirtualHost> - Save and close the file by pressing Ctrl + X, followed by Y.
- Enable the virtual host by running the following command:
sudo a2ensite example.com.conf - Restart Apache for the changes to take effect:
sudo systemctl restart apache2
- Create a new configuration file for your virtual host by running the following command:
- Repeat these steps for each additional virtual host you want to set up.
- If you want to host multiple websites on your Apache server, you can set up virtual hosts. By default, Apache has a default virtual host enabled. To add additional virtual hosts, follow these steps:
- Place Website Files:
- If you’re hosting a website, place your website files inside the appropriate directory. By default, it is located at “/var/www/html”. You can use the following command to navigate to that directory:
cd /var/www/html - Upload your website files or create new ones inside this directory.
- If you’re hosting a website, place your website files inside the appropriate directory. By default, it is located at “/var/www/html”. You can use the following command to navigate to that directory:
- Adjust File Permissions (Optional):
- Depending on your website requirements, you may need to adjust file permissions. Use the following command to change the ownership of the website directory to the Apache user “www-data”:
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html
- Depending on your website requirements, you may need to adjust file permissions. Use the following command to change the ownership of the website directory to the Apache user “www-data”:
- Test Your Website:
- Open a web browser and enter your server’s IP address or domain name associated with your virtual host. You should see your website’s content.
Congratulations! You have successfully set up an Apache web server on Ubuntu. Whether you’re hosting a single website or multiple virtual hosts, your Apache server is now ready to serve web content.